the area is less than 100 miles from north korea's china border. and is the same site used for north korea's previous two tests. the first in 2006 and the second in 2009. the u.s. geological survey detected a 4.9 magnitude seismic event in the area, more powerful than the 4.5 that registered in 2009 after north korea's second test. scientists in multiple countriesing detected the explosion. north korea issued a confirmation, declaring the test was quote, carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniatureized de greater explosive force than previously, unquoted. pyongyang also declared the the reckless hostility of the united states. unquote. in a state of the union address tuesday president obama had this to say. >> provocation of the sort we saw last night will only further isolate them as we standby our allies, strengthen our own missile defense and lead the world in taking firm action in response to defense and take firm action in respnorth threats. >> this is north korea's first successfully launched a long range rocket,